Electric heater.



BATENTED JAN. 21, 1908.

G. W. ELKINS. ELECTRIC HEATER. v APPLICATION FILED JAN.13. 1906.

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ELECTRIC HEATER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEIT 2.

i. P shown. Upon one side of the stand is shown an ordinary faucet 3, fed by the pipe 41, r in any suitable manner and controlling the shown a faucet 5 having a special control the faucet 5, in the form shown in Fig. 1, is

Figurel represents an elevation of a bowl 'tral cross-section of a construction shown in responding parts in the figures.

a bowl attached to a stand 2 which is sup- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. ELKINS, OF ELKINS PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASIGNUR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY DOLIER, JR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIAI] ELECTRIC HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21,1908.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. ELKiNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elkins Park, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Electric Heater, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a spiral path in a spigot made up in part of casing and in part of heat element and permitting no other water movement than spiral.

A further object of my invention is to gain the advantage of a spiral tube with theaccessibility for cleaning, etc., of a groove when the heat element is removed.

and spigots showing an attached heater in section. Fig. 2 represents an elevation of a modified form of heater intended for separate attachment. Fig. 3 represents avertical cen- Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference indicate cor- Referring to the drawings: 1 designates ported in any suitable manner not here coldwater supply, in the present instance. Upon the opposite side of the stand is hereinafter described, by which a supply of hot water is furnished. The water, for

passed through a heater 6 to which it is supplied from pipe 4 by means of pipe 7, through a valve 8 by which the supply may be permanently regulated or cut off, as desired. The heater shown at 6 is of a type having flow of water through passage 9 which is spiral around a central, and in this case cylindrical, high temperature heat element 10, to which electric current is supplied, as hereinafter described, through wires 11 and 12. The outer wall 13 of the passage 9 may be the outside of the heater. In the form shown in Fig. 1, I have, however, provided an outer shell 14 for the purpose of forming a heat insulating chamber 15, between these two walls 13 and 14, which chamber may be fed with air or with any 1 non-heat-conducting material. The pipe 7 1 enters the heater 6, referably near the lower extremity of the eater, as at 16, and the water for the faucet is drawn, preferably, at the up er end thereof, as at 17.

WVhile the automatic control of the current by the thermostatic break and the combinations thus formed are not my invention, having been invented by Henry DOlier, Jr. I have illustrated and will fully describe these arrangements in order to emphasize the entire suitability of any structure to such control. Near the' 11 per extremity of the passage 9 and preferably in connection 'with a space 18 formed at the top of this passage, to permit commingling of the water following passage 9, I connect a pipe 19 to a standard diaphragm thermostat 20, which controls the making and breaking.

of olectricconnection between contacts 21 and 22. Any suitable form of thermostat break may be used. In figure 11 have shown this break with the upward movement of the diaphragm. The direction of movement of the diaphragm necessary to cause this break is immaterial and the exact form of standard thermostat used is also not material.

As is well known the thermostat is operative by the temperature of the fluid conducted to it through pipe 19. Whether this be air, steam or water, that is whether the passage 9 and chamber 18 be filled with water or not, the electric break is, therefore,

operated freely by the temperature of the fluid within this passage and chamber. In the present instance I prefer a temperature of about 200 F., although other set temperatures of an adjustable thermostat may prove desirable. It will be evident that if the heater 10 should operate without any water being admitted to the passage 9 and chamber 18, the temperature would quickly eX- ceed this thermostat set, and the contacts 21 and 22 would se arate, breaking the current in the circuit. t will also be evident that if the water be heated excessively within the passage 9 and chamber 18 or, indeed, at an point within the heater, this thermostat w' also operate and that its operation is independent of whether air, water or steam be the medium by which the temperatures of the passage and chamber are conducted to it through the pi e 19. It will be evident also that in some orms of the thermostat or of allied diaphragm operated controlling mechanism, the diaphragm would or could be operated by the mere presence of the water and the pressure of the same upon the dia phragm and that in this manner the control could be withdrawn and the control may be dependent upon the presence or absence of the water in the passage 9 and chamber 18.

This form of control is particularly suitable in the form of break by forward movement of the diaphragm, as illustrated in Fig. 1.-

In the movement of the handle 23 by which the faucet 5 is opened, the bar or strip 2 1 projecting upon each side of the spindle 25 makes contact with the studs, springs or strips 26 and 27, to which the current is conducted and it is, with the exception of the automatic break 22, the only open point in the electric current. The source of electricity has been conventionally shown at the dynamo 28. It will be evident that any suitable source of current may be used and that it will be more usually convenient to connect a plug 29 and a socket 30 to which the lighting current is applied. The form of switch shown at 24, 26 and 27 is a conventional one. Any suitable, preferably connected, switch of the character used in elecing at 11 by wire 33,

' the helix being separated by tric lamp connections is suitable for this purpose. The electric circuit, as shown in Fig. 1, is as follows when the connections at the valve and at the thermostat are made beginning with the brush 31, through one side of the socket 30 and plug 29, to wire 12, thence through the electric heater 10, emergthrough contacts 21 and 22, by wire 34; to contact 26, through switch 24 to contact 27 and thence to and through the other sides of plug and socket 29 and 30 to brush 35 to the source of power.

In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, I have omitted any switch mechanism for the circuit for the sake of clearness and I have illustrated another form of heating faucet lacking the casing and arranged to be connected with an electric light socket, in which the same general form of heating element 10 is used, to which the path of the water is spiral through helix 36, the several convolutions of a helical wall 37. The path of the water throughout the thermostat is, therefore, clear and distinct and no regurgitation, longitudinal or cross flow of any kind is permitted.

The form of heater shown in Fig. 3 is provided with projecting pins or plugs 38 and 39 which may, themselves, be inserted in s0ckets connected with the source of current supplied. It will be evident that these are more suitable for a portable heater of the type shown in Fig. 3, than for a heater of the type shown in Fig. 1, but may be used with the latter and that the fixed type of heater shown in Fig. 1 may be permanently attached at 11 and 12 to the house wiring where desired. It will be evident that the wiring in im 1 may be either open or concealed and that provision for concealed wiring to the contacts 21 and 22, 26 and 27 are made within the castings or in the fittings, asdesired.

It will be understood that the various switch parts and contacts are insulated from all the fittings and from each other except as intended to complete the electric circuit. This insulation is shown in Fig. 1 at 4A.

Throughout the illustrations I have shown conventional types of switches and contacts for the reason that the exact form of connection of the various parts to establish electric circuit is not a part of my invention. My invention consists in the combination and arrangement of these parts to make the contact and connections at the times desired and in the form stated.

I am aware of an ap lication filed by Henry DOlier, Jr., of even date herewith, showing and describing some of the same construction herein illustrated.

It will be evident that various' changes may be made by those skilled in the art which will come within the scope of my invention, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited to the exact construction herein shown and described. 4 I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, a removable heat element, a casing therefor, contactin spirally therewith throughout its length an affording inlet and outlet passages to the spiral path formed therebetween, a valve and means for causing movement of said valve in one direction to pass a current of electricity through the heat element.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing and cooperating heat element making spiral contact therewith and forming a spira path therebetween closed to water passage except at the ends thereof, in combination with automatic means for heating the heat element when water is passed through the passage.

3. In a device of the character described, a casing open at the center longitudinally and internally spiraled in proximity to said opening, a heat element insertible therein and closing the central opening thereof throughout its length, a valve and means for causing a current of electricity to pass through said heat element when the valve is turned in one direction.

1 4. In a device of the character described, a casing centrally longitudinally apertured and internally grooved in proximity to said aperture and in spiral form, a removable heatelement fitting the central aperture and in direct contact with the walls of said groove, a valve and means whereby moving the valve in one direction causes electricity to pass through said heat element. 130

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bination with automatic means for heatin the heat element when Water is passed through the groove.

' GEORGE \V. ELKINS. Vitnesses R. F. BOWER, HENRY DOLIER, Jr. 

